Recent changes to Augusta National have the golf course sounding like a spam e-mail… it has safely gotten longer and harder. It’s greatest champion, though (for another few years anyway), has some issues with it.

Someone asked Jack Nicklaus whether or not it was still possible for someone to make a miraculous Sunday charge on the back nine. Here’s what the Golden Bear had to say:

“I know what Augusta is trying to do,” Nicklaus said. “Whether they’ve gone overboard, I’m not sure. But they’ve eliminated a lot of guys who are able to do that. Could Tiger (Woods) do that? Or Ernie Els? Or Vijay (Singh)? Yes. Could Mike Weir or Jose Maria (Olazabal) — one of those guys of moderate length — could they do that? Probably not. That’s the change at Augusta I have a hard time with.”

And I agree wholeheartedly. In adding and adding and adding to their golf course, it seems like Augusta National has lost something. As much as I hate the culture that surrounds the club, there is something special about the course itself that just shouldn’t be fucked with.

I just don’t want to see it become like a U.S. Open course–ungodly length, punishing rough, greens as hard and undulating as Mark McGwire’s bare chest. Those things are fine at the U.S. Open, but it used to feel like Augusta was about something completely different.

I don’t care if the scores there get lower. I don’t care if -20 wins it. It’s still a test of golf that’s equal to everyone, and I’d rather see the shortknockers have a chance to get close to Tiger at -20 than see only a handful of guys who have the length to win the tournament at -7 or -8.

I think they should just make everyone play the damn thing with wooden clubs.